¶ As they made their journey thorow Amphipolis, and Apolonia, they came to Thessalonica where was a synagogue of the jewes. Paul as his manner was went in unto them, and three saboth days declared out of the scripture unto them, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from death. And that this Iesus was Christ, whom (said he) I preach to you. And some of them believed and came and companied with Paul and Silas. Also of the honorable greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few.
¶ The jewes which believed not having indignation took unto them evil men which were vagabonds, and gathered a company, and set all the city on a roar, and made assault unto the house of Iason, and sought to bring them out to the people. and when they found them not, they drew Iason and certain brethren unto the heads of the city crying: These that trouble the world are come hither also, which Iason hath received privily. And these all do contrary to the ordinations of Cesar, affirming another king, one Iesus. And they troubled the people and the officers of the city when they heard these things. And when they were sufficiently answered of Iason, and of the other they let them go.
¶ The brethren immediately sent away Paul, and Silas by night unto Berrea. When they were come thither they entered into the Synagogue of the jews. These were the noblest among them of Thessalonia, which received the word with all diligence of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were even so. And many of them believed, and of worshipful women which were greeks, and of men not a few. When the jews of Thessalonia had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berrea, they came thither and moved the people, and then by and by the brethren sent away Paul to go unto the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. They that guided Paul brought him unto Athens, and received a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him at once. And came their way.
¶ While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him to see the city given to worshipping of images. Then he disputed in the synagogue with the jews, and with the devout persons, And in the market daily with them that came unto him. Certain Philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoyckes disputed with him. And some there were which said: what will this babbler say. Other said: he seemeth to be a tidings bringer of new devils, because he preached unto them Iesus, and the resurrection, and they took him, and brought him into Marce street saying: may we not know what is this new doctrine whereof thou speakest. For thou bringest strange tidings to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean. For all the Athenians and strangers which were there gave themselves to nothing else, but either to tell or to hear new tidings.
¶ Paul stood in the midst of Marce street and said, ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are somewhat superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld the manner how ye worship your goddes, I found an altar wherein was written: unto the unknown God. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him shew I unto you: God that made the world, and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed of any thing. Forasmuch as he giveth to all men life and breath every where, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth. And hath assigned times appointed before, And the ends of their inhabitation, that they should seek God, if they might feel and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, move, and have our being, as certain of your own poets said. For we are also his generation. Forasmuch then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, silver, or stone, graven by craft and imagination of man.
¶ And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but now he biddeth all men everywhere repent, because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world according to righteousness, by that man, whom he hath appointed, and hath given faith to all men, after that he had raised him from death. When they heard of the resurrection from death, some mocked, and other said: we will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Certain men clave unto Paul and believed, among the which was Dionysius a senator, and a woman named Damaris, and other with them.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526